Means for winding wire in making prestressed bevel-end concrete pipe



Sept. 4, 1962 G. E. HUCK 3,052,419

MEANS FOR WINDING WIRE IN MAKING PRESTRESSED BEVEL-END CONCRETE PIPE Original Filed April 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

8 8 7 INVENTOR GEORGE E. HUCK BY 7% M ATTORNEYS TO PUMP TO TANK Sept. 4, 1962 G. E. HUCK 3,052,419

MEANS FOR WINDING WIRE IN MAKING PRESTRESSED BEVEL--END CONCRETE PIPE Original Filed April 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIRE SPACING REVOL. OF TABLE FIGS mumm INVENTOR GEORGE E. HUCK BY W vM ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()1 3,052,419 BEANS FUR WINDING WIRE IN MAKING PRE- STRESSED BEVEL-END CONCRETE PIPE George E. Huck, Fullerton, Calih, assignor to American Pipe and Construction (10., South Gate, Califl, a corporation of Delaware Urrgural application Apr. 28, 1958, Ser. No. 731,402. ggided and this application Jan. 6, 1960, Ser. No.

7 Claims. (Cl. 242-7) This invention has to do generally with the manufacture of prestressed concrete pipe wherein wire is wound under tension around the concrete body of the pipe and secured thereto to thereby subject the concrete to a compressive force. This is -a divisional application based upon application Serial No. 731,402, filed April 28, 1958.

In the manufacture of prestressed concrete pipe it is often necessary to make pipe wherein one end of the pipe is oblique or inclined with respect to a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Since the wrapping of the pipe body is done by wire feed apparatus which advances along the pipe body at a uniform rate While the pipe is rotated, a regular or uniform helical winding is applied. This winding, of course, cannot be carried beyond the inner limit of the beveled end portion of the pipe body. Consequently it has been customary to complete the helical winding adjacent the beveled end at the short side of the pipe and then provide makeshift means for reinforcing the remainder of the pipe from there to the end. This is objectionable since the beveled end portion of the pipe is then not stressed in the same manner as the remainder of the pipe.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide novel means for winding reinforcement wire around a pipe body having a beveled end in a manner to prestress the entire pipe body from end to end, including the portion which is at the beveled end thereof.

Still another object is to provide a novel pipe wrapping and wire feeding mechanism whereby the portion of he device through which the wire is fed can be cyclically nonuniformly advanaced along the pipe in synchronisrn and coordination with the rotation of the pipe to provide a unique winding pattern of modified helical form.

More particularly, it is an object to provide novel means for oscillating an arm or other member in timed relation with the operation or movement of a related object whereby the oscillating movement may be progressively increased, or otherwise varied, in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

Still another object is .to provide a novel cam and lever means for use as a part of servomechanism apparatus.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, somewhat diagramrn-atical, of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the bevel end portion of a pipe embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of a portion of the Wrapping and of the oscillations of the wire feed means;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the principal working parts of the apparatus of FIG. 1 which embody the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the operative relation between certain of the principal parts of the invention.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 designates a concrete pipe body which is shown positioned upright upon a rotary table 12 and which is mounted for rotation upon a base 13, motor 14, worm l5 and ring gear 16 being shown as the means for rotating the table. It is to be noted that the upper end 11 of the pipe body is disposed in a plane which is oblique or inclined with reference to a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the pipe body.

The pipe body is shown in FIG. 1 partially wrapped by reinforcing wire 18 which has been applied by a wire feed means generally designated 20. The feed means includes a carriage 21 which is mounted in any suitable manner for vertical movement along an upright supporting structure 22 which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the pipe body. The carriage may be moved vertically upon the structure 22 by means of a motor-driven pinion 23 which engages a rack 24 upon the support. The carriage supports a wire supply reel 26 and may carry any desired conventional means (not shown) for restrain ing the wire as it is pulled from the reel by the rotating pipe body. It will be apparent that in the: operation of the device, the carriage is advanced along the support and, as the pipe body 11 is rotated, wire 18 is fed or payed out under tension to the pipe body in consequence of which a uniform helical wrapping is formed about the pipe body.

The wire feed means includes a wire feed arm designated 30 which is pivotally mounted at 31 upon a frame structure 32 forming part of the carriage 20. The arm is provided with a pair of guide rollers 33 and 34 at its outer end through which the wire feeds. A bracket arm 36 integral with the arm supports a fluid motor shown as a fluid ram element 38. The latter includes the cylinder 39 and a piston therein (not shown) having a projecting piston rod 40 which is pivotally mounted at 41 upon the frame structure 32. of the carriage. It will be obvious that with this construction as the ram 38 expands longitudinally the arm 39 will move downwardly from its normal horizontal position in which it is shown.

In order to wind the wire about the beveled end portion of the pipe body I form a modified helical wrapping about the pipe from a region spaced a substantial distance from the beveled end of the pipe body to the beveled end. In doing this, I prefer to first determine the length of the beveled end portion of the pipe, this distance being designated as d in FIG. 2. I then begin wrapping the pipe with a modified helical winding from a point along the pipe spaced from the extreme end of the beveled end of the pipe 2. distance arbitrarily chosen as several times a, designated xd in FIG. 2. Thus the pipe body is wrapped in the regular manner so as to produce a uniform helical winding throughout the portion 42 of the pipe body up to the chosen point, designated 43. I then tilt the turns of the helical winding progressively as they are applied, maintaining the same spacing between turns along the long side of the pipe and decreasing the spacing along the short side by the proportion required in order to evenly space the turns along the short side and produce the modified helical winding throughout the section 55 of the pipe body. This may be accomplished by the apparatus dis closed by causing the wire feed arm to oscillate in synchronism with the rotation of the pipe body in a manner such that the arm dips below its normal horizontal position and is at its greatest amplitude or lowest point coincident with the time that the wire therefrom contacts the shortest side of the pipe. The amplitude of oscillation of the arm is progressively increased by the amount of the amplitude of the first oscillation upon succeeding oscillations. This is shown graphically in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that the carriage is advanced uniformly as the arm is oscillated.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, in order to actuate the wire feed arm so that its oscillations progressively increase in amplitude, I provide a cam 50 which is splined to a shaft 51 to enable the cam to be advanced axially therealong. The shaft is journaled in brackets 52 and 53 which extend outwardly from a base plate 54 secured to a section 55 of the carriage frame by bolts 56. The shaft 51 is driven in synchrom'sm with the rotary table 12 by a selsyn motor 60. The latter is electrically connected in a conventional manner to a second selsyn motor, 61, which is driven by the table at the same rate as the table.

For advancing the cam 50 axially, I provide a screw shaft 64 journaled at 65 and as upon portions of the carriage 67 and in the brackets 52, 53 heretofore referred to. A worm or screw thread 69 is formed on the shaft and this is received in an internally threaded yoke body 70 having a yoke element 71. The latter is received in a reduced portion 72 of the cam.

Shaft 64 is driven in synchronism with the means which advances the carriage in order that the cam will be advanced throughout its length as the carriage traverses the distance xd (FIG. 2). The drive means may include a clutch member 74 and a drive connection 75 between the clutch and the pinion 23 heretofore referred to. The shaft is shown provided with a sprocket wheel 78 which may be connected by a chain (not shown) through other drive means to the pinion. The latter is driven by a motor 8ft.

I provide a cam follower lever 82 which is pivotally suspended at 83 (FIG. 4) from an element 85 carried on the bracket arm 36 of arm 30. The lever normally rides against the periphery of the cam as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the lower portion of the arm. is provided with a head 87 which is adapted to contact the actuating pin 88 of a servovalve 90. The latter is mounted on arm 30 and is connected between the ram 38 and a source of fluid under pressure by means of conduits 91, 93, 94, and 95.

In the operation of the apparatus, at the appropriate time, clutch 74- is engaged (manually or automatically) to drive the cam axial-1y. As the cam rotates in synchronism with the pipe body being wrapped, the cam moves axially and rotatively past the cam lever to actuate the same. The cam is so shaped as to progressively increase the movement of the lever, and hence movement of wire feed arm 30, in accordance with the predetermined pattern. As the cam rotates, it moves the lever 82 to the left as viewed in FIG. 4. The lever in turn actuates the servovalve 90 which supplies fluid to the ram 38, causing the same to expand and move the arm 30 downwardly. In this connection it should be pointed out that the servovalve 90 is preferably internally spring-biased in a direction to move its actuating pin 88 outward-1y. It may be assumed that when the pin 88 of the valve is to the right of the position in which it is shown in FIG. 4, fluid is supplied to ram 38 in a manner to contract the ram and that when the valve pin is moved to the left of the position in which it is shown fluid is supplied to the ram in a manner to expand the ram. As the arm 30 moves downwardly the point of pivotal support of the cam lever 82 moves arcuately to the left (FIG. 4) permitting the lever to incline rearwardly at its lower end under the influence of the spring-biased valve pin 88 with the result that the latter returns to its original position. ThlS sequence is repeated as the cam rotates and the arm 30 thus moves downwardly in a series of small movements until the high point of the cam has passed. The mechanism then permits the arm to return to its original position by reason of the arm being allowed to retract under the influence of the cam 50 and the spring-biased valve pin 88.

As previously indicated, the clutch 74 may be operated manually or automatically. In either case, for convenience, clutch 74 may be electrically actuated of the solenoid type, as indicated in FIG. 6 where the soleno d portion has been designated 748. The solenoid circu t may be automatically energized by a switch 100* carried on the carriage which engages and is actuated by a trip 101 mounted on the support 22 at the required height.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for winding reinforcement wire in a generally helical form, about an object, means for supporting and rotating the object about which the wire is to be wound, wire supply means including a carriage having a wire feed arm mounted thereon for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of the object, means for producing relative movement between the carriage and the object in a direction longitudinally of the object whereby the carriage traverses the object longitudinally, and means for oscillating said arm in timed relation with the rotation of said object comprising a rotary cam characterized by an axially elongated cam face of varying configuration, means for rotating said cam in synchronism with rotation of said object, a cam follower engaging said cam face, means for advancing one of said cam and follower relative to the other axially of the cam in timed relation to the movement of said carriage relative to the object, and means for translating movements of said cam follower into oscillations of said arm.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the means for translating movements of said cam follower into oscillations of said arm comprises a fluid motor operably connected between said carriage and said arm, a source of pressure fluid, and servovalve means responsive to the movement of said cam follower operably connected between said source of pressure fluid in said fluid motor.

3. In apparatus for winding reinforcement wire in a generally helical form about an object, means for supporting and rotating the object about which the wire is to be wound, an elongated support extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the object, a carriage mounted for movement along said support, a wire feed arm pivotally mounted on said carriage for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said object, means for advancing said carriage along said support, a threedimensional cam carried by said carriage, said cam being mounted for rotation and for axial movement, means for rotating said cam in synchronism with the rotation of said object, means for advancing said cam axially, and means operably interposed between said cam and said arm for causing said arm to oscillate in accordance with the cam face.

4. In actuating apparatus, a support, a movable member pivotally mounted at one end on said support, power means connected between said movable member and said support for imparting two-directional movement to said member about its pivotal axis, a cam follower lever pivotally suspended from said movable member, a cam carried by said support for actuating said lever, and control means operatively connected to said power means for rendering the same ineffective or selectively effective in either direction including a movable element in the path of move ment of said lever and means yieldably resisting movement of said element and urging the same toward said lever.

5. Actuating means as set forth in claim 4 in which said cam follower lever is pivotally suspended at a height above said movable element and in which said cam is mounted at a height intermediate the pivotal axis of said lever and the movable element.

6. Actuating means as set forth in claim 4 in which said power means is a fluid motor, in which said control means is a servovalve connected between said fiuid motor and a source of pressure fluid.

7. In apparatus for winding reenforcement wire in a generally helical form about an object, means for supporting and rotating the object about which the wire is 7 to be wound, wire supply means including a carriage having a Wire feed arm mounted thereon for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of the object, means for producing relative movement between the carriage and the object in a direction longitudinally of the object whereby definitely spaced convolutions of Wire are applied about said object by said arm as the carriage traverses the object longitudinally, means for oscillating said arm on its pivotal mounting during application of a plurality of said convolutions in timed relation with the rotation of said object, means for progressively 10 changing the amplitude of the oscillations of the arm, and

means for automatically initiating oscillation of the arm at a predetermined point in the travel of the carriage relative to the object.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,629,560 Abbe Feb. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,025 Italy May 26, 1955 

